Berhampur: The Ganjam District and Sessions Court on Tuesday awarded life imprisonment to a man and his son for the murder of a 55-year-old man in a land-related dispute that took place nearly two years ago.
The convicts, identified as Surendra Behera (69) and his son Mohan Behera (35), were sentenced by District and Sessions Judge Ashant Kumar Das. The court arrived at the verdict after examining the testimony of 12 witnesses, including the victim’s wife, and considering documentary evidence such as DNA profiling.
In addition to life imprisonment, the court imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on each of the convicts. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional six months of imprisonment for both.
The incident occurred on February 4, 2024, at Kaithada village under the Golanthara police station limits. Surendra and Mohan allegedly attacked Bhimasen Behera with sharp weapons, killing him on the spot. When the victim’s wife attempted to intervene, she was also assaulted and sustained injuries.
Following the incident, the victim’s wife lodged a complaint with the police, leading to the arrest of both accused and the registration of a murder case. Investigations revealed that the crime stemmed from a prolonged dispute over ownership of a piece of land, with both parties claiming rights to the property.
